ssibility of any one having been washed on shore alive, and they then
would have to search for water and some sheltered spot where they might
pass the night. With some difficulty they descended the cliffs to the
first line of beach they could discover, which extended for some
distance towards the east. Here and there lighter pieces of the wreck
strewed the shore, but the heavier fragments had been carried away by
the current. The wreck would serve for fire-wood, but then they had no
means of lighting a fire, and none of the pieces were large enough to be
of use towards building a hut. They did not therefore stop to collect
them, but pushed on, still not without some faint hopes that one or more
of their shipmates might have reached the shore alive on planks or
spars. The midshipmen, though their spirits kept them up, were,
however, much fatigued, and were longing to find a sheltered spot where
they might stop and rest.

An object in the surf now caught their sight, some way ahead, at a spot
free from rocks. Hastening forward they found that it was a cask, and
after several efforts, at the risk of being carried off by the sea, they
succeeded in rolling it upon the beach. It was full of beef, which,
though they were compelled to eat it raw, greatly restored their
strength. Further on a tangled mass of rigging had already been thrown
on the shore. Perhaps a human being might be found among it. They ran
on, eager to examine it. It consisted of spars and ropes and torn
canvas. The latter might assist to form a roof for a hut, if not large
enough for a tent. They were cutting it clear, when Chandos discovered
the stock of a musket, with part of the barrel broken off, rolled up in
its folds.

"That will not be of much use as we have no powder or shot," observed
Dickenson.

"No, but see, the lock and flint are still on it," answered Chandos.
"Hurrah! We shall now have the means of lighting a fire."

This success encouraged them to make further search. Several casks of
pork, and flour, and other provisions, an invaluable iron saucepan with
the lid tightly jammed on, as well as two sea-chests, with clothing and
numerous useful articles, rewarded their labours. The wide bay they had
before seen was reached at last. The extent of fertile ground was
smaller than they had supposed, and but few cocoa-nut trees grew on it.
Still, as the evening was advancing, and a sheltered nook near a rill of
water was discovered